Resilient wheel.



C. J. CRAIG.

RESILIENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JAN, 7, 1909 Patented; Mar. 15' 1916.

UNITED sirnrrns Pei trans 'oH'AR nY J. csAI e or'LA'rriRor, MIssousI.

RESILIENT WHEEL;

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that Lflrmmisr J. Cnannea citizen .of the United States,residing at Lathrop, in the countyof Clinton and State oftMissouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Wheels, ofwhich the following isa specification.

This invention compr'ehends"certain new and useful improvements invehicle wheels, and the inventionhas for its object an improved deviceof this character-which en bodies a peculiarv arrangement a of partswhereby a resilient connection'is afforded between the hub and the rimsoasto render the wheel susceptible of absorbing shocks incident .totravel over rough roads, the object being attained without employing theordinary pneumaticgtirescso;liable to puncture, and the wheel possessingto a marked degree the characteristics of -simplicity,'durabilityand'strength.

With this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructionsand arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe,and

then point out the novel features thercofin the append 'd'claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and toacquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to behad to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle Wheel constructed inaccordance with my invention; and, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontalsection thereof, the section being taken on theline 22 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indi: cated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

My improved wheel comprises a hub 1 which, in the present instance,embodies a metallic frame 2 that is in the form of a regular polygon,the opposite sides of which are connected by pairs of substantiallyparallel spaced bolts 3, the various pairs of bolts crossing near thecenter of the frame to mount the hub upon the axle 4. Nuts-5 work on theextremities of the bolts and are arranged to tighten the same and alsoto bear against washers G that are mounted upon the correspondingextremities of the I Specification of Letters Patent. I P tgntgflApplication filed January 7, 1909. Serial No.-471,204. I

A rim 8 encircles the series of s )rin s 1 ,across the respectivesprings atp flexible material such as wood or suit ticularly directed tothe fact that-inasmuch boltsia'nd extend therebetween wash ers aredesigned to be tightened against an nular springs 7 which are disposedon the hub and are interposed at corresponding, points between the rame2' thereof and the respective washers. The springs are i ranged in anannular series, and m he any number found most etfectuai p ties, thesprings being entirely indepem :n of each other, although the-adjacent.spur overlap considerablv, as best seen in i and is secured thereto inany approved manner, as by means of U-b'oltsf) that-are e l with the rimand carry glands'ltl stantially diametrically opposite to washers (1.The rim 8 is-construeted o metal, and is preferably strengtliiencd bytwo sets of bracesll that extend across the rim 'in a substantiallychord-like manner, with the bracesof one set arranged to the oppositeside of the series of springs from the braces of the other set. -Thesebra are arranged in pairs, with the pairs of one set. positioned instaggered relation to thoseot? the other set, the braces of each pairbeing arranged on opposite sides of the hub i, in spaced relationthereto andhntireiy independent thereof, so as not to interfere with thevibration of the rim and the braces relative to the hub, in theoperation of the Wheel.

If the wheel encounters an, o raetion while traveling along the road, itwill be observed that by means of the structure before recited, the rimand its braces will be pressed upwardly by the obstruction relative tothe hub 1, the braces being so spaced from the hub 'as not to interferewith such movement. As the rim 8 moves upwardly, the lowermost springs'7 are compres ed, while the other springs of the series are d k tendedso that the vibrator move of the rim is not transmitted to the hub 1 orthe axle t, and thus the shocks incident to the travel, are effectuallyabsorbed.

Among the many advantages which will recommend this structure, attentionparas the annular springs 7 interposed between the hub and the rim areentirely independent of each other, any one of the springs may bequickly removed when occasion demands, without disturbing the othersprings of the 1 series- Furthermore, with the fastening 'meanspreferably employed in the invention, an old sprin may be quickly andcon- 7 of the vehicle springs; which embodies to a marked degree thecharacteristics of simplicity, durability and efficiency in constructionand operation, and which consists of comparatively few arts that may beeasily and cheaply manu actured and readily as- 'sembled.

Having thus described the invention, what i I claim is:

1. A resilient vehicle whee]. embodying a rim, a continuous inner framewithin the rim,.a plurality of springs interposed between the frame andthe rim and having their outer portions secured to the latter, and aplurality of brace rods extending entirely across the frame and engagedat their opposite ends with the inner portions of adjacent springs tofasten the springs to the frame.

2. A resilient vehicle Wheel embodying a hub, a rim, a continuous innerframe encircling the hub within the rim, resilient means interposedbetween the frame and the rim, and pairs of brace rods extending entirely across the frame and crossed intermediate of their ends to mountthe frame 0 the hub.

. 3. A resilient vehicle wheel embodying a portions of adjacent springsto fasten the springs to the frame. I a

4. A resilient vehicle Wheel'embodying a hub, a mm, a continuous innerframeflof polygonal form encircling the hub within the rim, a pluralityof band springs interposed betweenthe frame and the rim and i havingtheir outer port-ions secured tot-he latter, the inner portions of saidsprings abutting the respective sides of the polygonal frame, and pairsof brace rods extending across the frame between opposite sides thereofand engaged at their ends with the inner portions of adjacent springs tofasten the springs to the frame, the pairs of rods being crossedintermediate of their ends to mount the frame on the hub.

In testimony whereof I afi'iX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CIIARLEY .T. CRAIG. Witnesses: H. C. SHEPHERD, M. T. CRAIG.

